How strongly are you influenced by review scores?

I care a lot about them, simply because I tend to always like games that get high reviews. Sure I may miss some gems that get averages in the low 7s, but if I bought every game that looked ok and scored down there I'd lose a lot more money than is worth it. Besides, there are more than enough AAA and AA quality games that have come out over the last 10 years to keep me busy forever, and more keep on coming.

Honestly lowest scoring game I own is The Conduit, with a 69 on Metacritic, and I don't regret it because even if it was a bit jacked up playing online with the Wiimote was extremely fun. Other than that though, I may own a couple scoring in the high 70s, but I'm willing to bet at least 70-80% of my games are AA or AAA on Metacritic. I don't even have enough money to afford all the AA-AAA games there are, why would I spend money on lower scoring games? I have yet to ever dislike a game critics recommended, but I have disliked games critics didn't recommend.

I'd say somewhat, I sometimes venture out and try out games below 7.0 metacritic wise and usually I either have mixed reactions or really think I'm a dumbass for buying it. This was mostly true with some Wii & PS2 games from last generation. Then again, GS isn't always right. I think Spider-Man Web of Shadows got a 8.0 here and I'm playing through it now and I really think it's a 6.0 - 6.5 and maybe a 7.0 if I'm really generous by the time it's finished.

So yeah, I'd say somewhat. It's always a good idea to check out some gameplay video's, read a few reviews and go check it's metacritic. I never pre-order or do day one purchases for my games even if it's an amazing game at the end.

Like 100% for new IPs. Still i would get some sequels like Bad Company 2 of Mass effect 2 even if they scored pretty bad.

I care a lot about them, simply because I tend to always like games that get high reviews. Sure I may miss some gems that get averages in the low 7s, but if I bought every game that looked ok and scored down there I'd lose a lot more money than is worth it. Besides, there are more than enough AAA and AA quality games that have come out over the last 10 years to keep me busy forever, and more keep on coming.

Honestly lowest scoring game I own is The Conduit, with a 69 on Metacritic, and I don't regret it because even if it was a bit jacked up playing online with the Wiimote was extremely fun. Other than that though, I may own a couple scoring in the high 70s, but I'm willing to bet at least 70-80% of my games are AA or AAA on Metacritic. I don't even have enough money to afford all the AA-AAA games there are, why would I spend money on lower scoring games? I have yet to ever dislike a game critics recommended, but I have disliked games critics didn't recommend.

oldkingallant

I'm totally with you on your whole paragraph, but the last sentence was questionable, only because of Gamespot.

They recommended ASSASSIN'S CREED 1, and it was the nicest looking turd I've played this generation...it was almost like all the reviewer(s) played was the demo. That's why I say Gamespot can't be trusted.

But your premise is pretty spot on. Kudo's.

The only time I'll stop to reconsider is if a game gets universally panned.

Lionheart08

Gamespot's scores don't influence me at all...

I tend to look at user reviews more when buying a game.

When most all review sites give negative scores then I'll stay away. But I like to go with my gut on most occasions. Happened with WKC. A disappointing game, yes, but not nearly as bad as GS and IGN made it out to be.

In the 'middle' of the scale and lower (7/,10, 3/5), quite strongly. After that, it's more often personal tastes that cause the variations in opinion, rather than glaring technical or design issues, so I get more out of really reading the review and seeing what the reviewer's complaints are.

Sometimes, usually a game I am not 100% about getting.

I do look at reviews scores (AND TEXT), but most time, when I want a game, whatever the score, I still buy it. (I bought White knight chronicle and enjoyed it)

never, there are so many games that i didn't like or hated that got universal praise and some low scoring games that i loved to death

Like 100% for new IPs. Still i would get some sequels like Bad Company 2 of Mass effect 2 even if they scored pretty bad.

PAL360

I only buy 6.0-10 games, so...

I've usually made my decision about a purchase before I see a good review, so there is little effect.

They somewhat influence my purchases. If I wanted to get a game and was incredibly hyped for it, I would get it even if the game gets terrible reviews. However, review scores do make me consider getting games I did not care too much about. Review scores could only make me want to get a game, and not deter me away from a purchase.

no you really shouldnt its a persons opinion just like you have your own

but you cant tell SW that:P

Sometimes, if I'm deciding to get a game that's been long since released.

Somewhat, I mean if a game im looking forward to gets 3 It might put me off getting it for a while, and if a game im not looking forward to gets a 10 ill probably go out and buy it straight away because 10's are rare on GS.

[QUOTE="oldkingallant"]

I care a lot about them, simply because I tend to always like games that get high reviews. Sure I may miss some gems that get averages in the low 7s, but if I bought every game that looked ok and scored down there I'd lose a lot more money than is worth it. Besides, there are more than enough AAA and AA quality games that have come out over the last 10 years to keep me busy forever, and more keep on coming.

Honestly lowest scoring game I own is The Conduit, with a 69 on Metacritic, and I don't regret it because even if it was a bit jacked up playing online with the Wiimote was extremely fun. Other than that though, I may own a couple scoring in the high 70s, but I'm willing to bet at least 70-80% of my games are AA or AAA on Metacritic. I don't even have enough money to afford all the AA-AAA games there are, why would I spend money on lower scoring games? I have yet to ever dislike a game critics recommended, but I have disliked games critics didn't recommend.

Persistantthug

I'm totally with you on your whole paragraph, but the last sentence was questionable, only because of Gamespot.

They recommended ASSASSIN'S CREED 1, and it was the nicest looking turd I've played this generation...it was almost like all the reviewer(s) played was the demo. That's why I say Gamespot can't be trusted.

But your premise is pretty spot on. Kudo's.

I pay attention to reviews all the time. Except for GS reviews - they tend to give everything that isn't mainstream lower than the norm. But with all the AA and AAA titles that come out every year, I don't really have time for titles that don't receive higher scores. Not to say anything below an 8.0 is bad, but there's only so many hours in the day for playing games.

I am not influenced by review scores, but the written reviews (there is too much focus on numbers instead of the opinions behind them on this forum). Even though I buy games based on personal preferences, mostly first-party developed Mario games, I look beyond the scores and into the written reviews on whether I should really buy the game even if I have already decided beforehand. I cannot always trust my gaming instincts and the written reviews (from GameSpot or Gametrailers, as I prefer longer and detailed reviews) will act as a guide on whether I should buy a game or not. Not only I cannot always trust my gaming instincts, but I have a limited budget for gaming so I do not buy every game that interests me.

When i was younger i used to go into Toys R Us and if the box looked cool i bought the game. I never even heard of reviews at that time and gaming was great.

Ever since i started going on GS and reading Game Informer i started becoming spectacleabout buying certain games based on reviews. Id like to say i don't let a review affect my purchase of a game but unfortunately it does.

I don't care about review score, but I do care about the review.

Am I influenced by review scores? Ha, no. I only got like 5 games that are AAA and I didn't really like some of them. Most of my favorite games generally score low. One hasn't even been reviewed here.

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]

I'm not. One of my fav games this gen got a 3.5 here.

DraugenCP

Which, if I may ask? Not Godzilla: Unleashed, by any chance?

By the bye, Rampage: Total Destruction for Wii is one of my favourite games this gen, got a 5.1 here.

If I'm sold on a game, nothing will stop me from playing it. A bad review may have me gamefly a game, or wait for a bargin bin pickup but never stop me flat out if I'm still interested.

If I'm on the fence about something it may be enough to tilt me one way or the other however.